Luke Littler is preparing for a tough Premier League darts match in Liverpool, but it’s not just his opponent—Michael van Gerwen—he needs to worry about. The 18-year-old, who famously supports Manchester United, is expected to face a hostile reception from local fans due to past jabs at Liverpool FC on social media.
Stephen Bunting, who will be competing in his hometown, believes Littler may have invited the backlash himself. “He mocked us when Liverpool lost 2-0 to Everton. People remember that,” Bunting said.
Although Bunting isn’t fazed by crowd reactions, he warned Littler about the dangers of stoking football rivalries: “It’s part of sport, but if you rile up fans, especially in a city like Liverpool, it’ll come back to you. He might not like it—especially after how Germany treated him—but sometimes you’ve got to take the consequences.”
Bunting also reflected on his own career, sharing how this Premier League night marks a decade since he was thrashed 7-1 by Phil Taylor in the same city. Now ranked world No.4, he’s hoping to turn things around after a rough tournament stretch.
Meanwhile, Littler, who recently expressed frustration with the German crowd during a loss in Munich, said he’s glad to have a six-month break from playing there. Still, he’s set to return to Germany in June to represent England at the World Cup of Darts alongside Luke Humphries.
With tensions high and rivalries sharper than ever, all eyes will be on the M&S Bank Arena for what promises to be a fiery rematch between Littler and Van Gerwen.
